Collapsible sawhorse bracket assembly



Feb. 26., 1963 c. o. LARSON 3,078,957

COLLAPSIBLE SAWHORSE BRACKET ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 4, 1962 INVENTOR.

Charles 0. Larson Feb. 26, 1963 c. o. LARSON COLLAPSIBLE SAWHORSE BRACKET ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 4, 1962 m m N Charles 0. Larson BY W finial, waft), mam/r ea/ Q United States Patent 3,078,957 COLLAPSBLE SAWHURSE BRACKET ASSEMBLY Charles 0. Larson, Sterling, Iil., assignor to Chas. O. Larson C0., Sterling, Iil., a corporation of lilinois Filed Apr. 4, 1962, Ser- No. 185,076 Claims. (tll. 182-226) This invention relates to sawhorses, trestles, and the like, and particularly to a bracket assembly for making folding and collapsible sawhorses and the like.

Sawhorses, in addition to the fundamental use thereof in carpentry, are also widely used as barriers, temporary fences, or other obstacles and many of these possible uses are temporary in the sense that the sawhorses may be utilized only for a short period of time, such for example, as a temporary barricade along a road under construction, after which the sawhorses are either stored or transported to another place of use. Accordingly, it is desirable that the sawhorses be adapted to have the legs thereof folded or collapsed between periods of use and during transportation thereof so that the sawhorses will occupy the least possible space. It furthermore is desirable that the sawhorses be foldable or collapsible with a minimum expenditure of time and energy and also that the sawhorses be again readily erected when a demand therefor arises; and when erected the sawhorses must be strong and rigid.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved sawhorse bracket assembly which can be utilized quickly to assemble a sawhorse which can be easily and quickly folded or collapsed for transportation or storage thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sawhorse bracket assembly of the type set forth in which the legs of the sawhorse are firmly held in the operative position with the associated crossp-iece when it is desired to erect the sawhorse and which can be readily collapsed by folding the legs toward each other without the use of any tools whatsoever.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved sawhorse bracket assembly of the type set forth which after folding and collapsing thereof can be readily erected to provide a strong and rigid sawhorse without the utilization of any tools whatsoever.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sawhorse bracket assembly of the type set forth wherein the legs can be moved between a spread supporting position and a folded collapsed position easily and quickly, the sawhorse bracket assembly, however, being simple and economical to manufacture and install.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been utilized to designate like parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sawhorse of the type which can be constructed utilizing the bracket assembly of the present invention, two of the bracket assemblies being utilized to secure one set of legs in converging relationship with each other and one end of a crosspiece and two of the bracket assemblies being utilized to secure a second set of legs in converging relationship with each other and the other end of the crosspiece.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view of the sawhorse of FIG. 1 with certain portions broken away, the parts being shown in the positions assumed when the sawhorse legs are in the folded position thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the parts 3,378,957 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 of wherein the sawhorse legs diverge outwardly and downwardly from the crosspiece;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged and exploded view of the parts of two bracket assemblies utilized to secure a pair of sawhorse legs to the sawhorse crosspiece; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of an end of the sawhorse assembly with the parts in the inverted position in which they are placed more easily to move the legs and associated parts from the operative position to the folded position thereof.

There is shown in the drawings a sawhorse, generally designated by the numeral 10, which has been assemblied utilizing four of the bracket assemblies made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, the bracket assemblies having have designated by the numeral 20. More particularly, the sawhorse 10 includes four legs 12 arranged in pairs at opposite ends of a crosspiece 14, the upper ends of the legs 12 converging toward each other and toward the adjacent end of the crosspiece 14. The bracket assemblies 20 at each end of the sawhorse 10 are identical, and accordingly, only one set of parts will be described in detail, like reference numerals being applied where appropriate to like parts in the other bracket assemblies.

Each of the sawhorse bracket assemblies 20 includes a pair of separate, independent and identical brackets 22, each of the brackets 22 including a main Wall 24 which is substantially fiat and planar and a side flange 26 formed integrally therewith and extending the length of the outer edge thereof. More specifically, the main plate 24 has a bottom edge 23 and an inner side edge 30 which are disposed substantially perpendicular to each other and are joined by a rounded corner 32. The outer edge 34 from which extends the side flange 26 is disposed at an acute angle of about 73 with respect to the bottom edge 28 and extends upwardly well above the upper end of the inner side edge 30 as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. A top edge 36 is provided on the main plate 24 substantially parallel to the bottom edge 28 and extending from the side flange 26 to a cutout portion in the upper inner corner on the main plate 24, the cutout portion being bounded by an edge 36 substantially perpendicular to the bottom edge 28 and an edge 40 perpendicular to the edge 38 and substantially parallel to the bottom edge 28, the edges 38 and 40 bounding the cutout portion and being adapted to receive therein one side of the crosspiece 14 when thebracket assembly 20 is in the operative position thereof as illustrated in FIG. 3. There further is formed in the portion of the main plate 24 adjacent to the side flange 26 a plurality of circular holes 42 adapted to receive therethrough fasteners, such as the screws 44, for mounting the bracket 22 upon the upper end of the associated leg 12, the main plate 24 of the bracket 22 being adapted to lie against one edge of the associated leg 12 and the side flange 26 thereof being adapted to engage the outer face of the associated leg 12; in addition, a square opening 46- is provided in the main plate 24 for the reception of a carriage bolt therein if desired.

. In order pivotally to interconnect a pair of side plates 22, as will be explained more fully hereinafter, the main plate 24 is provided with a pivot aperture 43 which is circular in shape and is disposed substantially midway between the edges 28 and 40 and spaced inwardly a short distance from the inner edge 30. There also is provided a generally L-shaped slot 50 therein including a first arm 52 and a second arm 54, the first arm 52 being arranged with the longitudinal axis thereof in alignment with the pivot aperture 48 and disposed therebelow toward the bottom edge 28, and the second arm 54 extending fromthe upper end of the arm 52 with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm 52 and extending toward the outer edge 34 and substantially parallel to the bottom edge 28, see FIG. 3 particularly.

In order to attach the crosspiece 14 to the brackets 22,

each pair of the brackets 22. is provided with an L-shaped.

being provided at the junction of the flanges 62 and 64.

More particularly, the first flange 62. is provided with a plurality of holes 66 receiving therethrough suitable fasteners, such as the screws, to mount the strap 60. upon the underside of the 'crosspiece 14; the second flange 64 has a pivot aperture 66 therein substantially centrally thereof and adaptedto be aligned with the pivot apertures- 48 in the associated brackets 22, and also has therein an elongated slot 70 having the longitudinal axis thereof in alignment with the pivot aperture 68 and disposed .on the side thereof away from the first flange 62 and having the longitudinal axis thereof also normal to the first flange 62.

In the bracket assembly 20, the brackets 22 and the strap. 60 are arranged with the main plates 24 and the second flange 64in mutually overlapping relationshipand a' pivot-pin generally designated by the numeral 72 is provided including a shank 74 extending through the aligned pivot apertures 48 and 68, and an enlarged head 76 engaging the outer surface of the strap flange 64. The other end of the shank 74 carries a washer 78 held thereon by peening over the outer end of the shank 74, whereby the main walls 24 and the flange 64 are held in assembled.

pivotal relationship between the head 76 and the washer 78, this construction serving pivotally to mount the legs 12'upon the associated end of the crosspiece 14..

There also is provided a lock pin'which extends through the L-shaped slots 50 in the brackets 22 and the elongated slot 70 in the strap 60, the lock pin'being generally designated by the numeral 80 and including a shank 82. eX-.

tending through aligned portions of the slots 50 and 70 and an enlarged head 84 engaging the outer surface of the strap flange 64, the other end of the shank. 82 carrying thereon a washer 84 hearing againstitheouter surface; of the main wall 24-of the innermost bracket 22 and, held. thereagainst by peening over the outer'end ofthe shank.

82. The pivot pin fittis'free to move within the slots 50 and 70 between a non-locking orfolded position illustrated in FIG. 2 andr'a looking or extended position illustrated inzFlG. 3, the non-locking position of FIG. 2 corresponding toaco-ndition wherein the legs 12 of the sawhorse are, .foldedntowa'rd eachother wi-ththe edges 38tof thev brackets 22 spaced from crosspiece .14, and the lockingv position of FIG. 3 corresponding to a condition'wherein the. legs12rdiverge outwardly and downwardly. fromthe cro'sspiece14 audthe edges 38 of the brackets 22are, disposed toward'andpreferably against the longitudinal edges. of the crosspiece 14..

In mounting the bracketv assembly. 20upon the-legs 12 and the crosspiece 14, the bracketassembly 20 may" have the. parts'thereof preassern'bled before attachment of thebrackets 22 of thelegs 12 and before attachment;

of the strap 60. to the crosspiece 14, or, alternatively, the brackets '22 may be assembled'on-the associated legs, 12 and the strap 60. mounted .on the crosspiece 14 after which the brackets 22 and the strap6t) are interconnected.

bythe pivot p'in72. and the lock pin 80 and their associated parts.

Once the parts are assembled as illustrated in the drawings, the lock pin .80 serves to hold the legs 12 in the outer supporting andoperative position thereof, the lock pin 80 being disposed in the lower ends of the aligned slots. 50 and 70, Any effort to move the legs 12 toward each other will be prevented since the edges of the slots 50, and

sprees;

4 particularly the edges of the first arms 52. thereof, will engage the lock pin and prevent such movement of the legs 12, whereby the lock pin 80 serves to hold the parts of the sawhorse assembly in the erected and operative position thereof. l

When it is desired to fold the legs 12 toward each other to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, this, can be readily accomplished by first placing thesawhorse 10 in the inverted position diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 5; the mere placing of the sawhorse 10 in the position of FIG. 5 will cause the lock pin 80 to move under the urging of gravity along the aligned-slots 50 and 70, and particularly along the arms 52 of the slots 50- to the aligned portions thereof nearest the pivot pin 72 and in horizontal align-ment wit-h the second arms 540i the slots 50. The legs 12 can now be moved toward each other.

whereby to move the pivot pin 80 into the slot arms 54 until theparts reach the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

When itis desired again to spread the legs 12 to place.

the parts in the operative position, it is necessary only to place the sawhorse 10 in the. upright positionthereof' and to move the outer ends of the legs. 12 away from each other, whereby to cause the lock pin 89-to move. along the slot arms 54 toward the junction. thereof with the slot arms 52.; and when the pivot pin 80. arrives in. the

slo t'arms 52,'the slot arms 52 will be invertical alignment with each other and with the slot 70, whereby the lock pin 80 can readily fall downwardly under theurging of gravity to the locking position illustrated in FIG. 3.

Accordingly, it will be seen that the legs, 12 and thfifll'le;

ous parts of the bracket assembly 20. can be moved between the operative and folded, positions thereof without.

described for purposes of illustration, it is understoodv that various changes. and modifications can. be made therein and it is intended to cover by the appended claims allsuch changes and modifications that .fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A collapsible. sawhorse bracket assembly for. inter. connecting a crosspiece anda pair of legs ,in converging relationship with each other and to the crosspiece, cornprisingv apair of separate independent brackets, each bracket including amain well adapted to be fixedly. se-.

cured to one edge of the associated leg atone end thereof,

an L-shaped strap including a first flange adapted to be fixedly. secured to the underside of the crosspiece and a second flange substanitally perpendicular to saidfirst flange and. extending away from the underside of the crosspiecc. and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis thereof, said brackets and said strap, being mutually. overlapping and having aligned pivot apertures therethrough, a pivot pin disposed in said aligned pivot.aper-' tures and pivotally interconnecting said brackets and said strap-to provide an axis fixed with respect to the crosspiece for pivoting the legs wtih respect thereto between a folded position wherein the other ends thereof are adjacent to each other and an operative position wherein the other ends thereof are spaced apart, said strap hav-- ing an elongated slot in said second flange anrangedwith the longitudinal axis thereof .in alignment with said pivot.

apertures and normal to said first flange, each of said brackets. having an l -shaped slot in the main .wall thereof including firstand second arms, the first arm of each of said L-shaped slots being arranged with the longitudinal.

axis thereofv in alignment with said elongated slot and said first arm of the other L-shaped slot when the legs 7 are in the operative position thereof, the second arms of each of said L-shaped slots being arranged at the end of the associated first arm thereof disposed toward said first flange and extending therefrom outwardly toward the associated leg, and a lock pin disposed in said three slots and movable therealong in the aligned portions thereof between a locking position and a non-locking position as the legs move between the operative and folded positions thereof, said lock pin in said locking position being disposed at the ends of the aligned first arms and the elongated slot disposed away from said first flange with the legs in the operative position thereof and supporting the crosspiece thereupon, said lock pin in said non-locking position being disposed in aligned portions of said second arms and said elongated slot with the legs in the folded position thereof.

2. The collapsible sawhorse bracket assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein a pair of brackets and a strap is provided on each side of each of the legs.

3. A collapsible sawhorse bracket assembly for interconnecting a crosspiece and a pair of legs in converging relationship with each other and to the crosspiece comprising a pair of separate independent brackets, each bracket including a main wall adapted to be fixedly secured to one edge of the associated leg at one end thereof and a side flange formed integral with said wall and disposed substantially perpendicular thereto and along the outer face of the associated leg at the one end thereof, an L-shaped strap including a first flange adapted to be fixedly secured to the underside of the crosspiece and a second flange substantially perpendicular to said first flange and extending away from the underside of the crosspiece and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis thereof, said bracket and said strap being mutually overlapping and having aligned pivot apertures therethrough, a pivot pin disposed in said aligned pivot apertures and pivotally interconnecting said brackets and said strap to provide an axis fixed with respect to the crosspiece for pivoting the legs with respect thereto between a folded position wherein the other ends thereof are adjacent to each other and an operative position wherein the other ends thereof are spaced apart, said strap having an elongated slot in said second flange arranged with the longitudinal axis thereof in alignment with said pivot apertures and normal to said first flange, each of said brackets in the main wall thereof having an L-shaped slot including first and second arms and disposed on the side of said pivot apertures opposite said first flange, the first arm of each of said L-shaped slots being arranged with thelongitudinal axis thereof in alignment with said pivot apertures and in alignment with said elongated slot and said first arm of the other L-shaped slot when the legs are in the operative position thereof, the second arms of each of said L-shaped slots being arranged at the end of the associated first arm thereof disposed toward said first flange and extending therefrom toward the associated side flange, and a lock pin disposed in said three slots and movable therealong in the aligned portions thereof between a locking position and a non-locking position as the legs move between the operative and folded positions thereof, said lock pin in said locking position being disposed at the ends of the aligned first arms and the elongated slot disposed away from said first flange with the legs in the operative position thereof and supporting the crosspiece thereupon, said lock pin in said non-locking position being disposed in aligned portions of said second arms and said elongated slot with the legs in the folded position thereof, said lock pin being movable from said locking position to said non-locking position under the urging of gravity when said assembly is arranged with the legs extending upwardly from the crosspiece and said lock pin being movable from said non-locking position to said locking position under the urging of gravity when the legs diverge outwardly and downwardly from the crosspiece.

4. A collapsible sawhorse bracket assembly for interconnecting a crosspiece and a pair of legs in converging relationship with each other and to the crosspiece, comprising a pair of separate independent brackets, each bracket including a main wall adapted to be fixedly secured to one edge of the associated leg at one end thereof and a side flange formed integral with said wall and disposed substantially perpendicular thereto and along the outer face of the associated leg at said one end thereof, said main wall and said side flange extending beyond the adjacent end of the associated leg and said main wall having a cutout therein on the edge opposite said side flange for receiving and supporting the crosspiece therein, an L-shaped strap including a first flange adapted to be fixedly secured to the underside of the crosspiece and a second flange substantially perpendicular to said first flange and extending away from the underside of the crosspiece and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis thereof, said brackets and said strap being mutually overlapping and having aligned pivot apertures therethrough, a pivot pin disposed in said aligned pivot apertures and pivotally interconnecting said brackets and said strap to provide an axis fixed with respect to the crosspiece for pivoting the legs with respect thereto between a folded position wherein the other ends thereof are adjacent to each other and an operative position wherein the other ends thereof are spaced-apart and the cutoutportions of said brackets cooperate to engage the crosspiece and to provide support beneath and on the sides thereof, said strap having an elongated slot in said second flange arranged with the longitudinal axis thereof in alignment with said pivot apertures and normal to said first flange, each of said brackets having an L-shaped slot in the main wall thereof including first and second arms, the first arm of each of said L-shaped slots being arranged with the longitudinal axis thereof in alignment with said pivot apertures and in alignment with said elongated slot and said first arm of the other L-shaped slot when the legs are in the operative position thereof, the second arm of each of said L-shaped slots being arranged at the end of the associated first arm thereof disposed toward said first flange and extending therefrom toward the associated side flange, and a lock pin disposed in said three slots and movable therealong in the aligned portions thereof between a locking position and a nonlockin-g position as the legs move between the operative and folded positions thereof, said lock pin in said locking position being disposed at the ends of the aligned first arms and the elongated slot disposed away from said first flange with the legs in the operative position thereof and supporting the crosspiece thereupon, said lock pin in said non-locking position being disposed in aligned portions of said second arms and said elongated slot with the legs in the folded position thereof.

5. A collapsible sawhorse bracket assembly for interconnecting a crosspiece and a pair of legs in converging relationship with each other and to the crosspiece, comprising a pair of separate independent brackets, each bracket including a main wall adapted to be fixedly secured to one edge of the associated leg at one end thereof and a side flange formed integral with said wall and disposed substantially perpendicular thereto and along the outer face of the associated leg at the one end thereof, said main wall and said side flange extending beyond the adjacent end of the associated leg and said main Wall having a cutout therein on the edge opposite said side flange for receiving and supporting the crosspiece therein, an L-shaped strap including a first flange adapted to be fixedly secured to the underside of the crosspiece and a second flange substantially perpendicular to said first flange and extending away from the underside of the crosspiece and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis thereof, said brackets and said strap being mutually overlapping and having aligned pivot apertures therethrough, a pivot pin disposed in said aligned pivot apertures and pivotally interconnecting said brackets and said strap to provide an 7 axis-.fixed-with respect to the crosspiece for pivoting'the legs with respect-thereto between a folded position wherein the other'ends thereof are adjacent to each other and an operative position wherein the other ends thereof are spaced-apart and the cutout portions of said brackets coopcrate to engage the crosspiece and to provide support beneath and on the sides thereof, said strap having an elongated slotin said second flange arranged withthe longitudinal axis thereof in alignment with said pivot apertures and normal to said-first flange, each of said brackets in the main. wall thereof having an L-shaped slot including first and second arms and disposed on the side-of said pivot a'pertures opposite said first flange, the firstarm of eaehof said L-shaped slots being arranged with the longitudinal. axis. thereof in alignment with" said pivotaperturesand inlalignment with saidelongated slot and said first .arm of theother .L-shaped slot when the legs arein the operative position thereof, the second arms of each of said -L -shaped slots, being arranged at the end of the associated first arrn thereof disposed toward said first flange and extending therefrom toward the associated side flange, and a loclrpin disposed in said three slots and movabletherealong in the "aligned portions thereof be tween 21 looking position and a non-locking position as the.

legs move between the operative and folded' positionsthereof, said lock pin in said locking position beingdisposedat the ends of the aligned first arms andthe elongated slot'disposed'away from'said first flange with the legs in the operative position thereof and supporting the crosspiece thereupon, said lockpin in said non-locking:

position being disposed in aligned portions of said second arms and said elongated slot with the legs in the folded position thereof, said lock pin being movable from said locking position-to said non-locking position under the lock pin being movable from said non-locking position to said locking position under the urging of gravity vwhen the legs diverge outwardly and downwardly from thecrosspiece.

References Cited in the fil'eof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,748,849 Schmidt, Feb; 25,1930" 2,412,395 Goosman Dec. 10, 1946 2,555,503 Morton June 5, 195i, 2,561,864 Hollywood July 24, 1951 2,829,012 Snyder Apr. 1, 1958 2,941,618 Larsonv June 21, 1960" 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE SAWHORSE BRACKET ASSEMBLY FOR INTERCONNECTING A CROSSPIECE AND A PAIR OF LEGS IN CONVERGING RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER AND TO THE CROSSPIECE, COMPRISING A PAIR OF SEPARATE INDEPENDENT BRACKETS, EACH BRACKET INCLUDING A MAIN WALL ADAPTED TO BE FIXEDLY SECURED TO ONE EDGE OF THE ASSOCIATED LEG AT ONE END THEREOF, AN L-SHAPED STRAP INCLUDING A FIRST FLANGE ADAPTED TO BE FIXEDLY SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CROSSPIECE AND A SECOND FLANGE SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FIRST FLANGE AND EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CROSSPIECE AND SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF, SAID BRACKETS AND SAID STRAP BEING MUTUALLY OVERLAPPING AND HAVING ALIGNED PIVOT APERTURES THERETHROUGH, A PIVOT PIN DISPOSED IN SAID ALIGNED PIVOT APERTURES AND PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID BRACKETS AND SAID STRAP TO PROVIDE AN AXIS FIXED WITH RESPECT TO THE CROSSPIECE FOR PIVOTING THE LEGS WITH RESPECT THERETO BETWEEN A FOLDED POSITION WHEREIN THE OTHER ENDS THEREOF ARE ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER AND AN OPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN THE OTHER ENDS THEREOF ARE SPACED APART, SAID STRAP HAVING AN ELONGATED SLOT IN SAID SECOND FLANGE ARRANGED WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID PIVOT APERTURES AND NORMAL TO SAID FIRST FLANGE, EACH OF SAID BRACKETS HAVING AN L-SHAPED SLOT IN THE MAIN WALL THEREOF INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND ARMS, THE FIRST ARM OF EACH OF SAID L-SHAPED SLOTS BEING ARRANGED WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID ELONGATED SLOT AND SAID FIRST ARM OF THE OTHER L-SHAPED SLOT WHEN THE LEGS ARE IN THE OPERATIVE POSITION THEREOF, THE SECOND ARMS OF EACH OF SAID L-SHAPED SLOTS BEING ARRANGED AT THE END OF THE ASSOCIATED FIRST ARM THEREOF DISPOSED TOWARD SAID FIRST 